33. Setting out writing back
General Summary
"X days later, Marwa received word from the Teeth that Amir had been found guilty of all he was accused of. She named her wishes: to have his assets redistrubted with a decent chunk going to Laith, to have him reset, and to be allowed to punch him first.
"These were granted"
Freezeframe of Marwa clocking his lights out, cheek/jaw distorted, nose broken, humiliated
I feel like when Cri and Saeldor head out, they both express that they're so glad you're finally in the clear. It's a weight off everyone's shoulders
Saeldor and Cri probably go first; the Noor place is nice but the half-giant would like to feel real earth under his boots again plz and would rather get the third airship journey over sooner rather than later
and Cri's tower is only a day or two flight from the Awakened Wood, which is both Saeldor's home and the best place to follow up on their plan of making sylvan inquiries into wishes
I give them both such big hugs and promise to see them soon - for real, this time. Also I apologize again to Cri for leaving her living room in such a state. Blame Mika.
So Ta'lok and Mika are obviously both also there to say bye for now
and I think Mika looks like he wants to point out that he sat INOBTRUSIVELY by the window ALL NIGHT except when he was WALKING OUTSIDE TOUCHING NOTHING, but he leaves it at a simple scoff lmao
He wants to stick around another day or so, to finish going over Julius' research, and Ta'lok wants to head back down to earth with him to make sure he doesn't dodge the Eldath Water thing
(also Ta'lok definitely wants to corner the warlock for a proper chat about like, so we both know you're a liability, what I want is the specifics of what could happen)
yeah the strategy boys need their one on one time, but the Noor household is full of distractions, Marwa not the least among them, and Ta'lok knows when to pick his moments
both of the boys get hugs from me
as Ta'lok's leaving, I say to his retreating back, "Hey boss. Next time, come find your rogue before you head off into trouble, yeah? You're useless without me." And I grin
He grins with a salute "Copy that, kiddo."
I look at Mika. "That goes for you, too. Not too much trouble without me, you got it?"
I think Ta'lok's like, halfway up the gangplank, Mika's lingering when you say that.
"Aw, you never let me have any fun," grinning belligerence
Marwa is cool as a cucumber, I motion like I'm going to give him a hug too
Yeah he'll let you. may even dare to hug you back
It's a quick one, but heartfelt
"Write, if you get bored. And I'll write back. Just know that if you encode shit it's going immediately into the fire."
He laughs "Okay, fine. But I'll make a puzzler out of you, yet."
I smirk. "You already have."
I think his answernig smile is warmer, softer than you'd expect for a joke
"Yeah, you're not kidding."
I hand him something hastily wrapped, and if he asks if I had that on me the whole time, I put a finger to my lips and say, "Trade secrets."
she hands it to him in a like, hidden way? LIke so Ta'lok and Laith who I assume is with the boss can't see?
"See you soon."
he slips it in a pocket, but not before looking between it and you surprised. Marwa is so goddamn sexy when she's being a smooth sneak
"Aw, and I didn't get you anything."
but the boss is tapping a foot, audibly
"Good luck with that." I nod to Ta'lok.
"Minuto!" called over his shoulder, to an answering
"How about 'now-o!'"
I start stepping back, give a little wave
the boy looks conflicted. He'll wave back and try a smile but it's crooked, kind of strained.
"See you later, then." it has the weight of words unsaid
And yeah, he'll turn and hustle up the gangplank onto the waiting ship
I don't think he does the thing when someone's going on a trip and they keep waving or looking back until out of sight. I think he's on deck, then he's below/in cabin/outta sight.
they're just chilling, Mika's doing puzzles and Ta'lok has got a notebook out, doing some notes
Ye, I like that better actually
getting his stuff in order to figure out their next step, updating logs (he's going to need reading glasses in a few years and its going to be ADORABLE)
and Ta'lok breaks the silence
"Hey. You mind if I ask you a couple questions?"
"Pretty consistently yeah, but you can shoot anyway." The tone's calm, maybe the mildest irritation as he continues tracing the point of a pen across a weird grid of mixed alphabet letters and then realizes he's not going to be able to do that and a conversation and puts it down.
Ta'lok doesn't bat an eye
"Do you, uh. Do you know what this thing wants from you, in a general sense, or is it kind of random? Stuff that takes you by surprise."
I think he was expecting this topic, but not this question. Looks at the boss, guarded. "A bit of both."
"Do you consider yourself a flight risk?"
Frown, "Explain."
"You spent some time in the Noor's library, yeah?"
Nod
"Read anything about a guy named Isaac?"
"Rings a bell." but he flinched. "If you're asking if I'm going to wander off without a word I don't plan to. But I think we both know it's not always up to me."
Ta'lok nods. "Would you say this thing, whatever it is, talks to you more frequently these days? I don't need to know what about."
he looks mildly irritated. "It's not a conversation. Anyway, I don't know. You ever..." he's thinking, trying to put it into something parseable, safe.
"It's more like tinnitus, I guess. So I don' tknow. You listen to something 24/7 for a few years and try to gauge if its getting louder."
"So it's a radio frequency that never shuts off?"
"Mighta busted the switch, yeah"
"I am gonna ask you this question only to get a read on what we might be dealing with here. I'm not here to judge you or start an argument, or tell you what to do. Has this thing ever asked you to commit acts of violence against a person or living thing?" Ta'lok is genuinely looking as open as he ever does
The boy. Is upset. And not in an angry way. He's been dutiful with the eye contact so far but he drops it at that, directs his answer to his hands.
"Yes."
Ta'lok nods. There's sympathy in his eyes, but he's in info-gathering mode, and he's no Cri or Saeldor, re: emotional comfort.
"Recently?"
"Does it matter?" strained
"If you can answer, I'd like to know."
I think he's wrestling with himself. He knows the boss can't use whatever snowball's chance he has to protect the others if he doesn't know what might happen. but he also knows details on this could and probably should force a reevaluation of his continued membership in this team
this feels like another chess match, an emotional one. Ta'lok is used to letting Mika think through his response.
Yeah, I think he takes a second, visibly at war
"Yes."
Ta'lok nods again.
"Okay."
I think a look of unease crosses his face before his next question, but he clenches his jaw and takes a breath
"At the tower. The prison. Did you get the sense that they were involved in...whatever you're involved in?"
Emphatic, "No."
And I want a metaphor like "same sport, NOT the same team" but Mika isn't a sports guy
"Any similarities?"
"You have to ask?"
"Got it."
"How long have you not needed to sleep?"
I think part of the emphasis before was restored eye contact. He glances aside when asked about the sleep thing, but picks it up again
"Same day I went to get Marwa."
"I'm sure you looked this up already, because you're a smart kid, but that Isaac guy stopped sleeping around three months before he disappeared. I'm not saying the same thing will happen here, I'm just trying to establish a timeline."
Mika nods.
"Do you get the sense that restraining you - in dire circumstances - would allow you to wait out whatever this thing asks of you? Or is it relentless?"
"Wouldn't help. And not because it's polite to buy a fella dinner first. But for starters I don't get a schedule in advance, so unless you're gonna tow me along in shackles, that's an issue by itself. For another, it straight-up wouldn't work."
He's thinking.
"I keep telling you all that it's not a conversation, its not employment, but since it seems the preferred metaphor anyway let's lean into it for a sec.
"When I have a job to do, the best thing you can do is get people out of my way. Because the only difference this thing understands between kill, maim, misdirect, is efficiency."
"When you're doing whatever this thing wants you to do, are you more powerful? Magically speaking?"
"If I'm missing something I need, I get it. Sometimes for keeps, but mostly on loan. Otherwise, no."
"Last question. For now."
Relief
His mouth lifts up at the corner a little bit, acknowledging how much he's grilling him
"What are your thoughts on Wishes?"
He opens his mouth like he has an immediate answer, then he considers.
"Made up bullshit, but safe enough to waste time on, is what I woulda said a few days ago. But I don't know, when a person who remembers the formation of the Material realms tells you its possible, you adjust the scales."
"I take it you had a chat with Mirage's mom? Formidable woman."
"Yeah, she comes by a lot of things honestly, it seems."
Ta'lok grins and shakes his head. "Mirage gets it from both sides of her family, I wager. She never had a chance."
lil smile
(so neither did I)
"Well I'm gonna do some reading, and then head off to bed. Keep me informed, if anything comes up." He stands up and heads off to his quarters.
Mika does a little salute, starts to pick up his puzzle, but then Ta'lok pauses in the doorway, speaks over his shoulder.
"Going to have to give it your best if you want to shake us off, you know that, right? See you in the morning, kid."
Mika manages a smile as the door closes, and looks down at the half-started ciphertext in his hands. It's somehow difficult to focus at the moment. He decides to go for a walk around the deck instead.
Its windy on the deck, he puts his hand in his pocket and remembers the thing from Marwa
so the box is small-ish
a little longer than the length of his hand, a few inches wide
she went a little nuts with the twine so it probably takes him a good minute to untie her knots
so you pop the lid off and a small card falls out
in Aurian, it says, "May the winds bring us together again." Which was that formal Aurian farewell Marwa gave to Asmira. And below that it says, "I know you don't need it, but just in case."
and it's a small silver dagger
could fit in a boot, but the hilt curves ever so slightly in the shape of a falcon's head
got a little leather sheath
I think he stares at it, looks at the note, looks back at it. Gives a breathless, single-syllable laugh. he shakes his head, because he can see that this is exactly what she's doing, that she knew he'd never let her give him anything this nice in person, that every prideful reflex in him would refuse, and GODDAMNIT THATS A SMART WORKAROUND SHE'S SO SMART AND SHE KNOWS ME SO WELL AUGUGHHHH
He runs a thumb over the hilt, tracing the sleek lines of the falcon it resembles. His chest tightens. he's ever felt so seen, so understood, it's the most thoughtful thing on so many levels. She's not just referencing his Name, she's tied it in with his Self; with something sharp, something given in care and connection, something reflective of a hopeful future, something to bring him through the dark and fearful.
He looks over the side, back in the direction they came. He wants wings so he can rush right back there and plant one on her, which as he thinks it he realizes would be confusing for her, but whatever he could explain after. It's hard to feel any trepidition at the moment. this is not helping his concentration re puzzles, he's going to find a space on the deck where he won't accidentally cut the mainsail free or something, and attempt some of the solo training he learned instead.
Marwa is restless not long after the crew leaves. She fills her days with lots of training with Baba, she puts her time in at the library with Dad - she gives it her all when it comes to the construction of her mind Fury, thinking about the real ship, remembering all the nooks and crannies. She spends lots of evenings on the roof, practicing, getting to know her own thoughts.
But she's impatient, and irritable at times. She's not short with her parents or anyone else, but they can tell she's frustrated at not having a lead yet.
Lydia catches her on the roof one night, floating silently towards her and says, "Thinking about that boy, are you?"
"What? What boy?"
Lydia gives her a head tilt and a patient expression. there's some nonverbal communication that passes between the Noor women. Lydia doesn't deign to answer because Marwa knows exactly who she's referencing, and they don't need to do this whole back and forth thing.
"I'm just worried, is all," Marwa relents, "Last time we all split up - things went sideways. What if something happens to them when they're on the road?"
Lydia nods in empathy. "Things happen all the time, habibi, and we almost never anticipate them. You must flow with them, or fly against them, when you can."
"I know, I know. I just. I'm not good at waiting."
"Why don't you write to them? I can send that Mika of yours some snacks I made special for him, too."
"What? Jesus Mama, he's not MY Mika, and I feel like you almost offended the guy with how much you tried to get him to eat."
"Well that's because he is too skinny, and because he is important to you so he is important to me."
that gets an eye roll
"And because he has a big fight ahead, and he should have good food in his belly when he prepares."
Lydia leans over and gives Marwa a hug, which Marwa begrudgingly returns
"Write to them. Tell them all how much you miss them, and that your mother says hello." Her smile turns mischievous, "And tell Mika that I'm rooting for you two."
Marwa SQUAWKS
"WHASLIJEDAFLSKJDF"
"Don't make those faces at me, habibi, we all saw you blush across the dance hall, clear as day."
Marwa is just making animal noises, plugging her ears
"I believe he loves you too, if that helps."
"LA LA LA LA I'M NOT LISTNEING GO AWAY MAMA"
'Very well, I will leave you be. Nimbus, keep an eye on her for me, will you?'
Lydia floats away, message delivered.
I think it takes a while for Marwa's cheeks to cool, but I think she admits to herself, maybe just a little...that she misses him. And she looks up at the stars and thinks about that dance again.
And bites her lip and whispers to Nimbus, "Hope he likes the dagger."